Falcons take 'step in right direction'

Dan Itel / The ArgusLiberty's Mike Gregory (3) is fouled by Lebanon's C.J. Hargis during Tuesday's non-league game at Liberty High School. The Falcons won 66-44.

After an 83-48 loss Friday to city rival Century, the Liberty boys basketball team didn't question whether things would get better.

With a senior laden team, the Falcons knew there would be improvement ahead. But with a first-year head coach who has instituted an entirely new system, just how much better is the question that is yet to be answered.

Some signs of the team's future potential were on display Tuesday when the Falcons beat Lebanon in decisive fashion, 66-44 at home. It was a much-needed injection of confidence after Friday's demoralizing loss against Century.

"Last Friday was a tough one," said head coach O.J. Gulley, who took over this year for former coach Tom Marshall. "We expected more from our guys, and our guys expected more. Tough loss, but the only thing you can do is look forward and bounce back, and I think today was a good step in the right direction."

In truth, Friday's loss to Century doesn't look as bad today as it did last Friday night as Liberty players exited their home court in defeat. The Class 6A Jaguars followed up on that win by beating Westview, the No. 1 ranked team in the Class 6A coaches poll, 52-49 on Tuesday. And Class 5A Liberty's first three games of the season, which included losses against Century and Glencoe and a win against McMinnville, were against Class 6A opponents.

On Tuesday night, Liberty showed what it can do against 5A competition, albeit against a team from the Mid-Willamette Valley Conference that went 0-22 last year.

"I think we're behind most teams right now because it is a new system," said Gully, who was a standout player at Linfield College. "Everything we're doing is new this year. So we understand it's going to take time. We understand we're going to take some tough losses early. But come January we'll be ready to go. We're behind, but we're on an accelerated program. And our guys understand that we've got to get better and get better in a hurry."

Against Lebanon (1-3), Liberty rode the play of one of its most experienced returner, senior post Devonte Rivers, a third-team all-Northwest Oregon Conference selection last year. He nearly notched a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals, highlighting a dominating effort at both ends of the court.

Senior guard Mike Gregory had five points and six steals as Liberty forced 28 total turnovers.

That started when Liberty got in the gym this week following Friday's loss. Needless to say, the Falcons were ready to scrub it from the books.

"Basically we went into the locker room after the game and coach Gully was on us for the things we did wrong but said just keep your heads up and focus on the next game because it will come to us," River said. "We will get those Ws."

Gulley said setbacks like Friday's can be a chance to assess where a team is and look at what can be improved upon.

"We came in to yesterday's practice and watched a lot of film, and I think our guys were able to see the mistakes we were making on the court," Gulley said. "Sometimes it's as simple as that, just looking at yourself and saying wait a minute I need to take a look in the mirror. And I think we did that. And we came out and had a great practice yesterday and worked hard."

It paid off starting in the second quarter with Lebanon leading 15-12.

Junior wing Dakota Drake hit a three-pointer to tie the game 30 seconds into the quarter to spark a 17-1 run. In that span, Gregory and junior wing Tyrin Lovelady also hit threes. By the time senior post Neil Suji hit a three-pointer with 43 seconds left before halftime, Liberty went into the locker room with a 36-20 halftime lead.

"I think we're responding well, but we still need to pick it up," said senior guard Jalen Thomas, who had eight points and five assists. "We did go hard today, but still could have capitalized more on their mistakes."

Liberty started the third quarter on a 7-2 run on the strength of three points from junior post Aaron Holman and baskets by Rivers and senior guard Danzel Grier. Liberty closed the quarter on a 12-7 to stretch the lead to 55-35.

Holman finished the game with 11 points, and Grier had six points and six assists.

By the end of the night, Lebanon head coach Kevin Johnson was impressed by Liberty.

"They've got some speed, and they've got some skilled players," he said. "But the improvement they've made from last year to this year is excellent. They have improved. (Gulley) is doing a good job with them."

The learning curve for Liberty increases again today with another in-town rivalry against Class 6A Hillsboro.

"That's another rivalry game," Gulley said. "And so far we've gone 0-2 versus Hillsboro schools, so that's a big one for us. That's a measuring stick. We have a pretty tough schedule in the preseason, a lot of 6A teams. The biggest key is being consistent. We've taken steps forward, but then we come out and take a step back. We need to learn how to keep going forward and forward. And yeah, you may take a step back in the game, but it can't be for the whole game."

River said the game against Hillsboro is important to keep the team's confidence high.

"We better get this W because we've already lost to two Hillsboro teams, and I'm not trying to lose another one," he said. "And if we just come out like we did today and come out strong and we'll come out with a W."